American singer and entrepreneur Ray J has revealed that doctors warned he may have only months to live following severe heart failure linked to pneumonia.
The 45-year-old singer made the disclosure in an Instagram video posted on Sunday, where he spoke about his recent hospitalisation and ongoing health struggles. In the video, Ray J thanked fans, friends and family for their support, saying their prayers helped save his life.
“I want to thank everybody for praying for me,” he said. “I was in the hospital. My heart’s only beating like 25 per cent. But as long as I stay focused and stay on the right path, everything will be alright.”
In the caption accompanying the post, Ray J wrote that he had narrowly escaped death. “Just almost died!! I’m alive because of your prayers and support!!” he said.
According to the singer, doctors informed him that his heart is functioning far below normal levels.
Ray J later attributed his condition to years of excessive alcohol consumption and drug use. He said the experience had forced him to confront the impact of his lifestyle on his health and overall well-being.
He also revealed that his parents would be accompanying him to upcoming medical appointments as he begins treatment and monitoring for the condition.
In addition, he publicly thanked his sister, Grammy-winning singer Brandy, for stepping in to support him financially during his recovery, saying she had paid his bills “for the rest of the year.”
Reports indicate that Ray J was admitted to a hospital in Las Vegas earlier this month after developing severe pneumonia and experiencing heart pain. The illness reportedly led to complications that affected his heart function, resulting in the alarming prognosis.
This marks the second time in four years that the singer has battled pneumonia. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was hospitalised with the illness and later spoke about the toll it took on his health.
In November 2025, Ray J was arrested following a domestic violence call during the Thanksgiving period.
Ray J, whose real name is William Ray Norwood Jr., rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s with successful R&B hits, most notably One Wish, which became a top-20 song on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his signature record.
He later scored another major hit with Sexy Can I, featuring Yung Berg, which peaked at number three on the Billboard chart. Over the years, his music earned multiple award nominations, including BET and Soul Train Music Award nods, and helped cement his place in early-2000s R&B, alongside a career that later expanded into television and business ventures.
For now, the singer says his focus is on recovery and making significant changes to improve his health, while relying on the support of family and fans as he navigates what he described as the most difficult period of his life.
